Parma, 29 March 2024 - Parma Calcio, on Monday 1 April at the Stadio Ennio Tardini for the league game against Catanzaro, will wear the blue third-kit for the World Autism Awareness Day (Tuesday 2 April) as blue is the colour linked to this particular cause. The numbers on the back of our players' shirts will be different for this game as they will feature handprints of children and young people from the Always With Blue association whose logo will also feature as a patch on the left sleeve of the shirt. A creative activity held at the Mutti Training Centre in Collecchio with athletes from both First teams.

‘Always With Blue’ is the slogan coined by our Club, exactly a year ago, to coincide with the international day raising awareness about autism. Since then, Always With Blue has become a form of social enterprise that allows autistic children and young people to access sports. Funds from a charity auction of the shirts worn by captain Enrico Delprato and teammates will be donated to Always With Blue.

On Monday at the Tardini, thanks to this social responsibiltu initative from Parma Calcio, over 100 people on the autism spectrum from groups and associations across the region, will have the chanc to relive the experience from one year ago, fully experiencing a match with all the fans, from being in the ground and in the stands to the snacks offered by Barilla. The youngest participants, alongside their guardians, will star in the teams' walk out onto the pitch, free to be as spontaneous as they feel to be. Out of respect for auditory sensitivities, the volume in the ground will be lowered, and fans will be asked to avoid using pyrotechnics and firecrackers.

Everyone, including Parma Calcio employees, will wear the 'Always With Blue' shirt which is yellow with blue writing since yellow is also used to represent autism, a testament to a perfect harmony with our Club, a nod that conveys the values of our community, uniting passion and social responsibility.

Giuseppe Squarcia, Football Social Responsibility of Parma Calcio, commented: 'One year ago we promised ourselves that 'Always With Blue' wouldn't be a one-day only event or project, but a principle of a continuous journey. In the last 12 months, we have supported swimming initiatives for these children with special instructors, hosted the course from the Foundation 'Children and Autism' from Fidenza at the Tardini financed by the Gruppo Giovani Industriali to train teachers and educators, and organised educational and creative activities'.

Dania Accorsi, President of 'Always With Blue’, affirmed: “World Autism Awareness Day last year at the Tardini was a fundamental moment that actively informed people and opened up many boundaries and positively impacted the distribution of resources and support, even if there is obviously much still to be done in the face of a growing problem with inevitable social consequences for certain communities.

In the stands of our stadium, representatives from the institutions involved are also invited to experience the game on Monday.